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Two
figures huddled together and looked up into the vast autumn night’s
sky, illuminated by the glow of an old Oak tree standing firm in the
dusky calm. Tucked away, deep within the crags and folds of bark
there glimmered a knowing smile. This evening had provided much
entertainment for the old tree but now a calm had come over this
familiar place amid the soft glowing lanterns. Brimming with hope and
inspiration the two figures let the deep blue night rush in once
more. Each tiny dancing light disappeared one by one into the night.

It
is almost a year since that magical evening and although the genesis
of Made on a Hill may have grown over years of creating, travelling
and exploring together, a fresh young shoot of inspiration had
sprouted that evening thanks to an old Oak tree.

We
have continued to be inspired by the support, encouragement and
generosity that we have received from family and friends for Made on
a Hill over the past year. It has been really exciting to meet new
friends online who share our passion for creating and sharing
beautiful, positive things in the world. If you use any of the
following social media sites be sure to give us a 'like' or just
swing by and say hi. We are currently on
Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram

New
flower presses arrived in the summer and with them the opportunity to
gather lots of new varieties of petals, flowers and grasses for our
ever expanding collection of handmade lanterns. Getting organised in
the studio has been one of the many challenges this year. Fresh
flowers and delicate petals gave way to the rich hues of autumn
leaves as September came to a close. We owe a big thank you to
everyone who has set aside their jars for the cause. Lots of glass
jars have been donated over the months and they have all been
welcomed into the studio to await their transformation.

The
workshop is becoming a fantastic space to experiment with ideas for
future wood projects as well as producing some new hairpin designs
along the way. I've found some new favourite woods to work with and
feel honoured to have been given some very old reclaimed Oak. The
first beams came full of old nails, hooks, worms and who knows what
else. They had previously held up the first floor of a local house
for over five hundred years. After much work they now form the base
for a new workbench that may just last another five hundred years, if
the weight is anything to go by. The second donation of ancient Oak
came from a farmhouse in rural France. Again, the timbers had stood
for over five hundred years in a barn roof. It is a great
pleasure to be given such wonderful historical timber. Besides the
ancient Oak, Chestnut, Cedar, Magnolia and Laburnum have also arrived
in the workshop and I'm very excited to see what lies beneath the
bark.

As we approach
the festive season our popular illustrated Christmas cards have
arrived back on the website. The anniversary of The Lantern Tree is
around the corner and we are really excited by the prospect of what
is to come. A massive thank you to everyone who has inspired and
encouraged us through our first year. We can't wait to see what the
next one brings...

There is a single point somewhere towards the end of the summer, before the winds switch direction, before the leaves curl and begin to flash their autumn fire. A moment so brief that you may just miss it. It is the last throes of summer and it has a habit of sneaking off unannounced. Here [...]